Dr Doug Wilson on ageing and longevity
Dr Doug Wilson is the Chief Medical Officer for Ferghana Partners Group. At the age of 70, Wilson, who is dyslexic, began a new career as an author. Before Ageing for Beginners he wrote nine books for children. He says if you want to live a long healthy life – exercise, socialise and eat a Mediterranean-style diet - not taking any one part of it (like drinking a glass or two of wine) to excess.
Personal longevity is about 25 percent dictated by genes and about 75 percent dictated by "luck and lifestyle", says the London-based New Zealander who describes himself as "pretty fit and pretty well" at 80.
Medical technology, including early diagnosis of cancer, also plays a big role in the longer lives of today.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure – which led to the death of American president Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 – is a condition most people now control with a small daily pill, Wilson says.
Keep an eye on your health so you can take action as early as possible, says Wilson.
"Use the medical system to get early diagnosis of those things that you can have treated and therefore eliminate them from having a negative potential on the rest of your life."
